How long?

[AmberFL 200]

I am still in the losing weight before the next step. I am 5lbs away! after this how long is the process?

[ChunkCat 675]

It took me two months to get all my requirements done so we could submit to insurance. Insurance approved it within a week! It really depends on your insurer and what you need to do to be cleared for surgery. My longest wait was to see the cardiologist, they were booked out 6 weeks. But I know some have had much longer waits so I consider myself lucky. I'm scheduled for surgery Nov. 1st, my first appt with the surgeon was August 3rd. Good luck with losing your last 5 lbs!!

[AmberFL 200]

4 minutes ago, ChunkCat said:

It took me two months to get all my requirements done so we could submit to insurance. Insurance approved it within a week! It really depends on your insurer and what you need to do to be cleared for surgery. My longest wait was to see the cardiologist, they were booked out 6 weeks. But I know some have had much longer waits so I consider myself lucky. I'm scheduled for surgery Nov. 1st, my first appt with the surgeon was August 3rd. Good luck with losing your last 5 lbs!!

I am lucky I have Kaiser, so its already approved when I got the referral so yay!! Was the cardiologist a requirement for your insurance? He didn't mention that to me, but my appt was literally okay you did the orientation, the nutrition class, now lost 15lbs get that official weigh in then call us and we will get the next step going....I am very anxious and I am self sabotaging myself! I was 5lbs away 2 weeks ago then gained 5lbs because I let myself just not care now back to 5 more lbs. This is so hard!

[ChunkCat 675]

No, the cardiologist was the surgeon's requirement! I am having a duodenal switch and will be under longer so he wanted to make sure everything was fine pre-surgery. Every doctor has different requirements. Sounds like you are part of the way through your requirements, you just have to stop sabotaging yourself! Have you seen a therapist about this? Head game is very important with these surgeries, that head game will make you or break you. It's good to have someone to talk it all out with and that support will be very important during your surgery and weight loss, so it is something you might want to look into!

[AmberFL 200]

1 minute ago, ChunkCat said:

No, the cardiologist was the surgeon's requirement! I am having a duodenal switch and will be under longer so he wanted to make sure everything was fine pre-surgery. Every doctor has different requirements. Sounds like you are part of the way through your requirements, you just have to stop sabotaging yourself! Have you seen a therapist about this? Head game is very important with these surgeries, that head game will make you or break you. It's good to have someone to talk it all out with and that support will be very important during your surgery and weight loss, so it is something you might want to look into!

this is a great idea!! the next step after i lose this 20lbs is the therapist LOL!!! how ass backward is that. thank you for the encouraging words. I am so anxious and I want everything done now!! Its the impatience in me. Again thank you!

[ChunkCat 675]

LOL No worries, I think a lot of us are impatient and just want things to get a move on! But in truth, they do, even if it seems slow. Time will pass before you know it and you'll be on your way... Finding things to manage that anxiety will help a lot, I find writing out all the stuff in my head helps. For some reason seeing it on paper makes it less intense and eases the pressure in my mind and I can logically think through things. I wish you the best of luck!! ❤️

[SmoknDudette 7]

Going on month 5 now. Takes about 6 months for mine. Started back in June. Found out had Iron deficiency anemia. So its been a roller coaster.

So my process was get the referral from my primary care provider, then made the consult with my bariatric surgeon. Ran that fine, they drew labs and two days later diagnosed me with iron deficiency anemia. Started my nutrition appts (have to have 3 of them) that week and the psych (have to have 2). My nutritionist jumped the gun at my anemia diagnosis and instead of holding off to see if therapy and a GI look helped, she referred me to a hematologist, GI, and sleep lab. At this point I've had all my nutrition and psych (passed with flying colors) appts, my GI done and cleared (found a sliding hiatal hernia with erosion causing my anemia, which is now resolved thankfully), Hematologist done and needing clearance, sleep study done and cleared by my understanding. Now I just have to wait 30 days min prior to the date I want for Surgery for my primary care clearance. Hoping I can get surgery on December 13th.

Best of luck and keep one foot in front of the other. You will do great and definatly think about therapy or a class to go to. Helps tremendously getting your mind in the right space.